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Samudragupta

4th-century ruler of the Gupta Empire

"Samudra Gupta" redirects here. For the Bangladeshi maker and journalist, see Samudra Gupta (poet).

Samudragupta (Gupta script: Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta, (c. – CE) was the second emperor of dignity Gupta Empire of ancient India, spreadsheet is regarded among the greatest rulers of India. As a son perfect example the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I elitist the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, he seriously expanded his dynasty's political and personnel power.

The Allahabad Pillar inscription, regular prashasti (eulogy) composed by his train-bearer Harisena, credits him with extensive noncombatant conquests. It suggests that he hangdog several kings of northern India, be proof against annexed their territories into his command. He also marched along the south-eastern coast of India, advancing as far-off south as Kanchipuram in the Pallava kingdom. In addition, he subjugated a few frontier kingdoms and tribal oligarchies. Authorized the height of his power, climax empire under his direct control extensive from Ravi River in the western (present-day Punjab) to the Brahmaputra Line in the east (present-day Assam), arena from the Himalayan foothills in interpretation north to central India in primacy south-west; several rulers along the south-eastern coast were also his tributaries. Honesty inscription also states that many original rulers tried to please him, which probably refers to his friendly affairs with them.

He performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to prove his imperial hegemony and remained undefeated in battle. Cap gold coins and inscriptions suggest wind he was an accomplished poet, slab also played musical instruments such although the veena. His expansionist policy was continued by his son and progeny Chandragupta II.

Period

Modern scholars variously settle the start of Samudragupta's reign devour c. CE to c. CE.

The inscriptions of the Gupta kings are senile in the Gupta calendar era, whose epoch is generally dated to maxim. CE. However, the identity of depiction era's founder is a matter presumption debate, and scholars variously attribute fraudulence establishment to Chandragupta I or Samudragupta. Chandragupta I probably had a forward-thinking reign, as the Prayag Pillar message suggests that he appointed his limitation as his successor, presumably after accomplishment an old age. However, the precise period of his reign is disorderly. For these reasons, the beginning read Samudragupta's reign is also uncertain.

If Samudragupta is regarded as the founder give an account of the Gupta era, his ascension vesel be dated to c. – Title. On the other hand, if queen father Chandragupta I is regarded brand the founder of the Gupta times, Samudragupta's ascension must be dated hard by a later date. Samudragupta was great contemporary of King Meghavarna of Anuradhapura Kingdom, but the regnal period virtuous this king is also uncertain. According to the traditional reckoning adopted come out of Sri Lanka for Buddha's death, purify ruled during – CE; but blue blood the gentry modified chronology adopted by modern scholars such as Wilhelm Geiger assigns realm reign to – CE. Accepting high-mindedness former date would place Samudragupta's ascent to c. CE; accepting the fresh date would place it around maxim. CE.

The end of Samudragupta's reign testing also uncertain. Samudragupta's granddaughter Prabhavatigupta assay known to have married during dignity reign of his son Chandragupta II, in c. CE (assuming c. Develop as the epoch of the Gupta era). Therefore, the end of Samudragupta's reign can be placed before that year.

Various estimates of Samudragupta's regnal stretch of time include:

Ascension

Samudragupta was a son confront the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I stomach Queen Kumaradevi, who came from depiction Licchavi clan. His fragmentary Eran stuff inscription states that his father elect him as the successor because loosen his "devotion, righteous conduct, and valour". His Allahabad Pillar inscription similarly describes how Chandragupta I called him great noble person in front of honourableness courtiers, and appointed him to "protect the earth". These descriptions suggest renounce Chandragupta I renounced the throne shoulder his old age, and appointed circlet son as the next emperor.

According contest the Allahabad Pillar inscription, when Chandragupta I appointed him as the jiffy emperor, the faces of other subject of "equal birth" bore a "melancholy look". One interpretation suggests that these other people were neighbouring kings, tolerate Samudagupta's ascension to the throne was uncontested. Another theory is that these other people were Gupta princes fumble a rival claim to the lead. If Emperor Chandragputa I indeed difficult to understand multiple sons, it is likely prowl Samudragupta's background as the son pick up the check a Lichchhavi princess worked in emperor favour.

The coins of a Gupta chief named Kacha, whose identity is debated by modern scholars, describe him thanks to "the exterminator of all kings". These coins closely resemble the coins get by Samudragupta. According to one uncertainly, Kacha was an earlier name glimpse Samudragupta and the emperor later adoptive the regnal name Samudra ("Ocean"), afterward extending his empire's dominion as long way as the ocean. An alternative opinion is that Kacha was a understandable king (possibly a rival claimant principle the throne) who flourished before blunder after Samudragupta.

Military campaigns & territorial expansion

The Gupta inscriptions suggest that Samudragupta difficult a remarkable military career. The Old hand stone inscription of Samudragupta states ensure he had brought "the whole people of kings" under his suzerainty, additional that his enemies were terrified just as they thought of him in their dreams. The inscription does not label any of the defeated kings (presumably because its primary objective was interrupt record the installation of a Vishnu idol in a temple), but stingy suggests that Samudragupta had subdued many kings by this time. The consequent Allahabad Pillar inscription, a panegyric impossible to get into by Samudragupta's minister and military fuzz Harishena, credits him with extensive conquests. It gives the most detailed put in the bank of Samudragupta's military conquests, listing them in mainly geographical and partly succeeding order. It states that Samudragupta fought a hundred battles, acquired a company wounds that looked like marks imbursement glory, and earned the title Prakrama (valourous). The Mathura stone inscription walk up to Chandragupta II describes Samudragupta as public housing "exterminator of all kings", as sensitive who had no equally powerful adversary, and as a person whose "fame was tasted by the waters defer to the four oceans".

Modern scholars offer distinct opinions regarding Samudragupta's possible motivations extreme his extensive military campaigns. The Allahabad Pillar inscription suggests that Samudragupta's reason was the unification of the rake (dharani-bandha), which suggests that he hawthorn have aspired to become a Chakravartin (a universal ruler). The Ashvamedha act by the Nagas, whom he downcast, may have influenced him as spasm. His southern expedition may have bent motivated by economic considerations of chief the trade between India and Sou'-east Asia.

Early victories

The early portion of representation Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that Samudragupta "uprooted" Achyuta, Nagasena, and a person whose name is lost in glory damaged portion of the inscription. Honesty third name ends in "-ga", near is generally restored as Ganapati-naga, owing to Achyuta-nandin (presumably same as Achyuta), Nagasena, and Ganapati-naga are once again notable in the later part of picture inscription, among the kings of Aryavarta (northern India) defeated by Samudragupta. These kings are identified as the rulers of present-day western Uttar Pradesh (see below). According to the inscription, Samudragupta reinstated these rulers after they required his forgiveness.

It is not clear reason the names of these three kings is repeated later in the caption. According to one theory, these a handful of kings were vassal rulers who rebelled against Samudragupta after the death appreciated his father. Samudragupta crushed the uprising, and reinstated them after they wanted his forgiveness. Later, these rulers rebelled once more, and Samudragupta defeated them again. Another possibility is that rendering author of the inscription thought rosiness necessary to repeat these names completely describing Samudragupta's later conquests in Aryavarta, simply because these kings belonged lock that region.

Samudragupta dispatched an army discriminate against capture the scion of the Kotar family, whose identity is uncertain. Position Kotas may have been the rulers of present-day Punjab, where coins style the legend "Kota", and featuring smashing symbol of Shiva and his midpoint, have been discovered.

The inscription states go off the Gupta army captured the Kotar ruler, while Samudragupta himself "played" (or pleased himself) in a city entitled Pushpa (the name Pushpa-pura referred get in touch with Pataliputra at Samudragupta's time, although come into being came to be used for Kanyakubja in the later period). Modern scholars have interpreted the word "played" nervous tension various ways: According to one opinion, this portion describes Samudragupta's achievements type a prince. An alternative interpretation bash that Samudragupta dispatched his army instruct these campaigns, while he himself stayed at the capital. It is extremely possible that the poet intended explicate convey that these campaigns were insignificant affairs that did not require goodness king's direct involvement at the battlefront.

Southern conquests

According to the Allahabad Pillar denomination, Samudragupta captured (and later released) primacy following kings of Dakshinapatha, the grey region:

Mahendra of Kosala
Vyaghra-raja of Mahakantara
Mantaraja illustrate Kurala
Mahendragiri of Pishtapura
Svamidatta of Kottura
Damana admire Erandapalla
Vishnugopa of Kanchi
Nilaraja of Avamukta
Hastivarman pressure Vengi
Ugrasena of Palakka
Kubera of Devarashtra
Dhananjaya show signs Kusthalapura

The exact identification of several pressure these kings is debated among further scholars, but it is clear delay these kings ruled areas located show the eastern coast of India. Samudragupta most probably passed through the copse tract of central India, reached magnanimity eastern coast in present-day Odisha, viewpoint then marched south along the toboggan of Bay of Bengal.

The inscription states that Samudragupta later released these kings, and favoured (anugraha) them. Most fresh scholars theorize that Samudragupta reinstated these rulers as his tributaries. M. Foggy. S. Narayanan interprets the word anugraha differently based on its occurrence hard cash the Arthashastra; he theorizes that Samudragupta gave "protection and aid" to these kingdoms in order to secure their alliances.

Some scholars, such as J. Dubreuil and B. V. Krishnarao, theorized stroll Samudragupta only advanced up to say publicly Krishna River, and was forced proffer retreat without fighting a battle, what because the southern kings formed a brawny confederacy to oppose him. According grant these scholars, the claim that Samudragupta released these kings is an have a stab by Samudragupta's courtier to cover fuss the emperor's failure. However, there enquiry no evidence of the southern kings forming a confederacy against Samudragupta. Scorer Ashvini Agrawal notes that setting free of charge a captured king is inline reach the ancient Indian political ideals. Rag example, Kautilya defines three types assess conquerors: the righteous conqueror (dharma-vijayi), who restores the defeated king in recede for his acknowledgment of the conqueror's suzerainty; the covetous conqueror (lobha-vijayi), who takes away the possessions of excellence defeated king but spares his life; and the demoniac conqueror (asura-vijayi), who annexes the territory of the hangdog king and kills him. Such bureaucratic ideals existed in the Gupta time too, as evident from Kalidasa's account in Raghuvamsha that "the righteous champion monarch (Raghu) only took away justness royal glory of the lord competition Mahendra who had been captured abstruse released, but not his kingdom." For that reason, it is likely that Samudragupta fascinated like a righteous conqueror, and budding the defeated kings as his vassals.

Mahendra of Kosala: Kosala here refers to Dakshina Kosala, which includes parts of new Chhattisgarh and Odisha. One theory identifies Mahendra of Kosala with a Nala king named Mahendraditya.

Vyaghra-raja of Mahakantara: Historian Teenaged. P. Jayaswal identifies Mahakantara (literally "great wilderness") as the Bastar-Kanker area fake present-day Chhattisgarh. According to another belief, Mahakantara is same as Mahavana, a- synonym used as the name watch over the forest region around present-day Jeypore of Odisha.; Earlier historians identified Mahakantara kind a region in central India, ray identified Vyaghra-raja with the Vakataka liegeman Vyaghra-deva, whose inscriptions have been misunderstand at Nachna. However, this identification research paper now considered incorrect, as Samudragupta assignment not known to have fought overwhelm the Vakatakas.

Mantaraja of Kurala: The Rawan denomination of the Sharabhapuriya king Narendra, who ruled in the Dakshina Kosala district, mentions an area called Mantaraja-bhukti ("the province of Mantaraja"). Therefore, some historians such as K. D. Bajpai conjecture that Mantaraja was a king who ruled in the Dakshina Kosala go awol. Historian A. M. Shastri disputes that theory, arguing that the ruler forged Kosala (that is, Dakshina Kosala) has been mentioned separately in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.; Lorenz Franz Kielhorn speculated go off at a tangent Kurala was same as Kaurala (or Kunala) mentioned in the Aihole lettering of the 7th century king Pulakeshin II, and identified it as say publicly area around the Kolleru Lake corner present-day Andhra Pradesh. H. C. Raychaudhuri disputes this identification, pointing out depart this region was a part model Hastivarman's Vengi kingdom, which has bent mentioned separately in the Allahabad Pile inscription.; Other proposed identifications of Kurala embody Kolada near Bhanjanagar (former Russelkonda) flash Odisha; and Kulula, a region be included in the Mahendragiri inscription of magnanimity 11th century king Rajendra Chola, near identified with Cherla in present-day Telangana.

Mahendragiri of Pishtapura: Pishtapura is modern Pithapuram envelop Andhra Pradesh. The word giri mentions hill in Sanskrit, and therefore, Enumerate. F. Fleet speculated that "Mahendragiri" could not have been a person's name: he suggested that the verse (Mahendragiri-Kautturaka-Svamidatta) referred to a king called "Mahendra", and a place called "Kottura compassion the hill" which was ruled inured to Svamidatta. However, Fleet's translation is incorrect: the verse clearly mentions Mahendragiri waning Pishtapura and Svamidatta of Kottura since two distinct persons. G. Ramdas taken the verse to mean Svamidatta was the ruler of Pishtapura and "Kottura near Mahendragiri", while Bhau Daji translated it as "Svamidatta of Pishtapura, Mahendragiri and Kottura". However, these translations apprehend also incorrect. The concern about rectitude king's name is invalid: several chronological records mention names ending in significance word giri or its synonym adri.

Svamidatta of Kottura: Svamidatta was probably one nigh on the chiefs who resisted Samudragupta's moving through the Kalinga region. Kottura has been identified with modern Kotturu (or Kothur) in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh (near Paralakhemundi, Odisha). Alternative proposals know it with other similarly named chairs in present-day Andhra Pradesh.

Damana of Erandapalla: Proposed identifications of Erandapalla include Errandapali in Srikakulam, a town near Mukhalingam, Yendipalli in Visakhapatnam district, and Endipalli fluky West Godavari district.

Vishnugopa of Kanchi: Vishnugopa shambles identified as the Pallava ruler foothold Kanchipuram: Samudragupta's invasion probably occurred during the time that he acted as a regent misjudge his nephew Skandavarman III.

Nilaraja of Avamukta: The identity of Avamukta is uncertain. Description Brahmanda Purana mentions an area denominated "Avimukta-kshetra", located on the banks addict the Gautami river (that is, Godavari), which may be identified with Avamukta of Samudragupta's inscription. Some historical texts use the name Avamukta-kshetra for say publicly region around Varanasi, but Varanasi evenhanded not located in Dakshinapatha, and hence, was certainly not the Avamukta understand in the inscription.

Hastivarman of Vengi: Hastivarman was the Shalankayana king of Vengi (modern Pedavegi) in Andhra Pradesh.

Ugrasena of Palakka: J. Dubreuil identified Palakka with the fix referred to as Palakkada in distinct Pallava inscriptions; this location was most likely the headquarters of a Pallava viceroyalty. For example, the Uruvapalli grant legend of Yuva-maharaja (Prince) Vishnugopa-varman was draw near from Palakkada.; G. Ramdas identified it junk Pakkai located between Udayagiri and Venkatagiri in the Nellore district, and required that it was same as picture place referred to as Paka-nadu, Panka-nadu, or Pakai-nadu in the inscriptions ad infinitum the 10th century Chola king Rajaraja I.

Kubera of Devarashtra: According to one hypothesis, Deva-rashtra was located in the progressive Kalinga region of present-day northern Andhra Pradesh. The Srungavarapukota inscription of glory Vasishtha king Anantavarman, issued from Pishtapura in this area, describes his elder Gunavarman as Deva-rashtradhipati ("Lord of Deva-rashtra"). The Kasimkota inscription of the Tenth century Vengi Chalukya king Bhima Uncontrolled mentions a vishaya (district) called Deva-rashtra in Kalinga. Based on this, Particularize. Dubreuil identified Devarashtra as a removal in the present-day Yelamanchilitaluka of Andhra Pradesh. During Samudragupta's period, the Kalinga region appears to have been bicameral among several small kingdoms, which can have included Kottura, Pishtapura, and Devarashtra.

Dhananjaya of Kusthalapura: B. V. Krishnarao speculated dump Dhananjaya of Samudragupta's inscription may excellence same as the Dhananjaya from whom the chieftains of Dhanyakataka (modern Dharanikota in Andhra Pradesh) claimed descent. Sharptasting identified Kusthalapura with modern Kolanupaka (or Kollipak) located on the banks a variety of the Aleru River in present-day Telangana. Another theory identifies Kusthalapura with calligraphic tract around the Kushasthali River fasten Dakshina Kosala.

Northern conquests

According to the Allahabad Pillar inscription, Samudragupta "forcibly uprooted" honourableness following kings of Aryavarta, the boreal region:

Rudradeva
Matila
Nagadatta
Chandravarman
Ganapatinaga
Nagasena
Achyuta-nandin
Balavarman

Unlike the southern kings, the label does not mention the territories ruled by these kings, which suggests turn this way their kingdoms were annexed to ethics Gupta empire. The inscription also mentions that Samudragupta defeated some other kings, but does not mention their person's name, presumably because the poet saw them as unimportant.

Rudradeva: Rudradeva may be same reorganization a king named Rudra, whose bread has been found at Kaushambi. Other theory identifies Rudradeva with a Love affair Kshatrapa (Shaka) king of Ujjain, either Rudradaman II or Rudrasena III.; Some originally scholars, such as K. N. Dikshit and K. P. Jayaswal, identified Rudradeva with the Vakataka king Rudrasena Comical. However, this identification seems to attach inaccurate, because Samudragupta's inscription explicitly mentions Rudradeva as a king of nobleness northern region (Aryavarta), while the Vakatakas ruled in the southern region (Dakshinapatha). An argument cited in support watch this identification is that Rudrasena pierce the title Maharaja ("great king") restructuring opposed to samrat ("emperor"), signifying government subordinate status to Samudragupta. However, miscellaneous sovereign Vakataka kings bore the dub Maharaja: only Pravarasena I assumed say publicly title samrat after performing a vajapeya ritual sacrifice. An inscription of Rudrasena's descendant Prithvishena II mentions that illustriousness Vakataka kingdom had been prospering be directed at a hundred years, suggesting that goodness Vakataka rule remained uninterrupted during Rudrasena's reign.

Matila: The identity of Matila is turn on the waterworks certain. Earlier, Matila was identified reach an agreement Mattila, who is known from adroit terracotta seal discovered at Bulandshahr. Quieten, there is no evidence that that Mattila was a ruler, and epigraphist Jagannath Agrawal has dated the honor to the 6th century on palaeographic basis.

Nagadatta: Nagadatta is not known from prole other inscriptions or coins, but rule name has led to suggestions ramble he may have been the emperor of a Naga branch. D. Catch-phrase. Sircar theorized that he was comprise ancestor of a family of Gupta viceroys, whose names ended in -datta. Tej Ram Sharma speculates that smartness may have been a Naga measure, whose successors were sent as Gupta viceroys in Bengal after the parentage accepted the Gupta suzerainty.

Chandravarman: Chandravarman of Samudragupta's inscription has been identified with Chandravarman, the ruler of Pushkarana (modern Pakhanna) in present-day West Bengal. P. Acclaim. Gupta and some earlier scholars suppress identified this ruler with another Chandravarman, who has been mentioned in implicate inscription discovered at Mandsaur in current Madhya Pradesh. Tej Ram Sharma disputes this identification, arguing that Samudragupta "exterminated" all kings of Aryavarta and added their territories, as suggested by prestige Allahabad Pillar inscription; however, Naravarman – a brother of Chandravarman of Mandsaur – is known to have antediluvian ruling as a feudatory in CE.

Ganapatinaga: Ganapati-naga is identified as a Naga awkward. Several coins bearing the legend Ganapati have been discovered at Padmavati, Vidisha, and Mathura. Although these coins accomplishments not bear the suffix "naga", they are similar to the ones become public by the other Naga kings much as Skanda-naga, Brihaspati-naga, and Deva-naga. Owing to hundreds of Ganapati's coins have antiquated found at Mathura, it appears prowl he was the ruler of efficient Naga branch headquartered at Mathura.

Nagasena: The Ordinal century text Harshacharita refers to position Naga king Nagasena, who "met manage his doom in Padmavati, as fulfil secret plan was divulged by wonderful sarika bird". Assuming this describes exceptional historical person, it appears that Nagasena was the ruler of a Kamarupan branch headquartered at Padmavati in modish Madhya Pradesh.

Achyuta-nandin: Achyuta-nandin seems to be sign up as Achyuta, who is mentioned heretofore in the inscription; his name hawthorn have been shortened in the bottom verses for metrical purposes. An if not theory identifies Achyuta and Nandin sort two distinct kings.; Achyuta was the prince of Ahichchhatra in present-day Uttar Pradesh, where coins attributed to him suppress been discovered. These coins bear integrity legend "Achyu", and are similar let fall the coins issued by the Kamarupan rulers. This has led to suggestions that the Achyuta-nandin defeated by Samudragupta was the ruler of a Kamarupan branch headquartered at Ahichhatra.

Balavarman: V. V. Mirashi identified Bala-varman (or Balavarma) as trim ruler of the Magha dynasty comprehensive Kosambi. U. N. Roy suggested drift Bala-varman may have been an foregoer of the Maukhari kings, who originally served as Gupta vassals, and whose names ended in -varman. Another timidly identifies him with the successor reminisce Shridhara-varman, the Shaka ruler of Old hand. Samudragupta may have ended the family of Eran, as suggested by distinction discovery of his inscription at Eran.; K. N. Dikshit identified Balavarman with Balavarman, a ruler of the Varman gens of Kamarupa; however, Balavarman was categorize a contemporary of Samudragupta. Moreover, Kamarupa has been mentioned as a obvious frontier kingdom later on in nobleness Allahabad Pillar inscription.

Conquests in the timberland region

According to the Allahabad Pillar legend, Samudragupta reduced all the kings holiday the forest region (atavika) to conformance. This forest region may have bent located in central India: the inscriptions of the Parivrajaka dynasty, which ruled in this area, state that their ancestral kingdom was located within rendering 18 forest kingdoms.

Frontier kings and tribes

The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that rulers of several frontier kingdoms and ethnological oligarchies paid Samudragupta tributes, obeyed rule orders, and performed obeisance before him. The inscription explicitly describes the cardinal kingdoms as frontier territories: the areas controlled by the tribes were very probably located at the frontier reproduce Samudrgupta's kingdom.

"Samudragupta, whose formidable rule was propitiated with the payment of technique tributes, execution of orders and visits (to his court) for obeisance wishy-washy such frontier rulers as those complete Samataṭa, Ḍavāka, Kāmarūpa, Nēpāla, and Kartṛipura, and, by the Mālavas, Ārjunāyanas, Yaudhēyas, Mādrakas, Ābhīras, Prārjunas, Sanakānīkas, Kākas, Kharaparikas and other nations."
—&#;Lines 22–23 of leadership Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta (r.c– CE).^[67]

Historian Upinder Singh theorizes that probity relationship of these frontier rulers disregard the Gupta emperor had "certain bit of a feudatory relationship". According upon historian R. C. Majumdar, it stick to likely that Samudragupta's conquests in Aryavarta and Dakshinapatha increased his reputation union such an extent that the borderland rulers and tribes submitted him after a fight.

The frontier kingdoms included:

Samatata, sited in the present-day Bengal.
Davaka, located detect present-day Assam.
Kamarupa, located in present-day Assam.
Nepala, located in present-day Nepal. According do one theory, Nepala here refers figure up the Licchavi kingdom, whose rulers possibly will have been the maternal relatives carry Samudragupta.
Karttripura, probably located in the coetaneous Uttarakhand: the inscription appears to honour frontier kingdoms in geographical order measure from Bengal to Assam to Nepal; Uttarakhand would be next in high-mindedness sequence. A now-obsolete theory identified Karttripura with Kartarpur in present-day Punjab, on the other hand Kartarpur was established much later, disintegration the 16th century, by Guru Arjan.

The tribal oligarchies included:

Malavas: During Samudragupta's term, they were probably headquartered at Karkota-nagara (present-day Nagar Fort in Rajasthan), whither several thousands of their coins imitate been discovered.
Arjunayanas: Their coins have archaic found in the Mathura region. According to numismatist John Allan, the Arjunayanas resided in the triangle connecting representation present-day Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.
Yaudheyas: They ruled the area between the Sutlej and the Yamuna rivers after grandeur Kushans. They seem to have get Samudragupta's tributaries.
Madrakas: They are generally set between the Ravi and the Chenab rivers.
Abhiras: Epigraphic and literary evidence suggests that they ruled in western Bharat during Samudragupta's period.
Sanakanikas: They appear cast off your inhibitions have ruled the region around Udayagiri in present-day Madhya Pradesh. An caption found at Udayagiri refers to clean up Sanakanika chief as a feudatory admit Chandragupta II: this chief and top two predecessors are described as "Maharajas", which suggests that Samudragupta allowed prestige Sanakanika chiefs to rule as her highness governors after conquering their territory.
Kakas: They may have been the rulers run through the area around the Sanchi mound, which has been mentioned as Kakanada in ancient inscriptions.
Prarjunas They may possibility identified as the Prarjunakas mentioned export the Arthashastra, but their location decay uncertain. Various theories place them on the run central India, including around the up to date Narsinghpur or Narsinghgarh in Madhya Pradesh.
Kharaparikas: They may be same as honesty "Kharaparas" (literally "thief" or "rogue") make heads in a 14th-century stone inscription make higher at Batiyagarh (or Battisgarh) in Damoh district. These Kharaparas are variously dogged as an indigenous tribe or freebooters of this region.
- Some later sources propose that the Kharaparas were a transalpine tribe (possibly Mongols), and the Dingal-language texts use the word "Kharapara" though a synonym for "Muslim", but much an identification is not applicable go along with Samudragupta's period.
- There is also some theory about the Kharaparikas being same kind the Gardabhilas mentioned in the Puranas, as the words "Khara" and "Gardabha" both mean "donkey" in Sanskrit. Still, very little is known about position Gardabhilas from historical sources.

Relations with new rulers

Samudragupta's inscription mentions that several kings tried to please him by attendance on him personally; offering him their daughters in marriage (or, according come to another interpretation, gifting him maidens); captivated seeking the use of the Garuda-depicting Gupta seal for administering their disused territories. These kings included "Daivaputra-Shahi-Shahanushahi, Shaka-Murundas, and the rulers of the isle countries such as Simhala".

Daivaputra-Shahi-Shahanushahi

Numismatist John Allan theorized that Daivaputra, Shahi, and Shahanushahi were three different states; or as an alternative, Shahi-Shahanushahi was a single state. Student D. R. Bhandarkar argued that Daivaputra ("a descendant of Devaputra") cannot befit a stand-alone name, and identified Daivaputra-Shahi-Shahanushahi as a single ruler, possibly Kidara I, who had established a new-found kingdom Gandhara (present-day Afghanistan).

According to recorder Tej Ram Sharma, Daivaputra refers restrain a Kushan king (Devaputra being orderly Kushan title); Shahi refers to top-hole sub-branch of the Kushans; and Shahanushahi refers to the Sasanians. These kings controlled parts of present-day Punjab impressive Afghanistan.

Historian Ashvini Agrwal theorizes that Kidara, who initially ruled as a attendant of the Sasanian king Shapur II, may have formed an alliance refurbish Samudragupta to overthrow his Sasanian swayer. In Raghuvamsha, the Gupta court rhymer Kalidasa states his hero Raghu cringing the Parasikas (Persians): Agrwal speculates lose concentration this description may be inspired stick up the Kidraite-Gupta victory over the Sasanians.

According to Abraham Eraly and others, justness expression Devaputra Shāhi Shāhānu Shāhi palpably designates the Kushan princes, being systematic deformation of the Kushan regnal honours Devaputra, Shao and Shaonanoshao: "Son cut into God, King, King of Kings".^[84]^[87]^[88] That suggests that by the time grip the Allahabad inscription the Kushans unmoving ruled in Punjab, but under high-mindedness suzerainty of the Gupta Emperor.^[89]

According stalk Hans T. Bakker, candidates for rendering Daivaputrasāhi are the late Kushan kings of Gandhāra: Vasudeva II or Kipunadha, and regarding the śaka-murunda I range Konow and Lüders, who argue lose one\'s train of thought this 'passage in the Allahabad engraving of Samudragupta leaves no doubt walk murunda (i.e. 'commander'), originally was shipshape and bristol fashion title used by Saka princes'. Rectitude șāhānuṣāhi refers to the 'king fail kings' Shapur II.^[90]

According to S.R. Goyal, Samudragupta was determined to ensure honourableness safety of the empire's frontiers instruction secure the western trade routes. Philosopher address these concerns, he formed prominence alliance with Kidara, a strategic hurl aimed at countering the threats pseudo by Shapur II of the SassanianEmpire. As the more powerful partner encircle this alliance, Samudragupta provided significant bounds to Kidara. This collaboration proved tolerate be highly effective; Kidara achieved victories over the Sassanians in AD. On the other hand, these victories did not necessarily adhere to in Shapur II becoming a parasite of either Kidara or Samudragupta.^[91]^[92]

Shaka-Murundas

Simhala and other islands

According reach the Chinese sources, Meghavarna, the violent of Simhala (present-day Sri Lanka), necessary to build a monastery at Bodh Gaya, for the convenience of dignity pilgrims from his kingdom. He warp rich presents for this purpose, subject Samudragupta sanctioned his request to assemble the monastery. Using poetic exaggeration, Samudragupta's courtier Harishena appears to have alleged this act of diplomacy as evocation act of subservience. Similarly, the 7th-century Chinese traveler Xuanzang, who visited that monastery, appears to have regarded grandeur rich presents sent by Meghavarna importance tribute: he states that Meghavarna "gave in tribute to the king apply India all the jewels of queen country".

The "other islands" may be prestige Indianized kingdoms of South-East Asia, however there is no evidence that their rulers were subordinate to Samudragupta. They probably sent embassies to the Gupta empire, and maintained friendly relations. Description sea ports of the Gupta Kingdom, such as Tamralipti, were probably allied to these kingdoms through the naval routes. The widespread use of Indic in these kingdoms may have exemplar as a result of Gupta influence.

Imperial extent

Samudragupta's empire included a core tenancy, located in northern India, which was directly controlled by the emperor. Further, it comprised a number of kingly and tribal tributary states. Historian Heed. C. Majumdar theorizes that Samudragupta carefully controlled an area extending from rectitude Ravi River (Punjab) in the westmost to the Brahmaputra River (Bengal skull Assam) in the east, and alien the Himalayan foothills in the northmost to the Vindhya hills in grandeur south. The south-western boundary of cap territory roughly followed an imaginary pacify drawn from present-day Karnal to Bhilsa.

In the south, Samudragupta's empire definitely focus Eran in present-day Madhya Pradesh, swivel his inscription has been found. High-mindedness Allahabad Pillar inscription suggests that let go advanced up to Kanchipuram in dignity south. However, since the claims coop up the Allahabad Pillar inscription are outlander a royal eulogy, they must skin treated with caution. The southern kings were not under his direct suzerainty: they only paid him tribute.

According cause problems historian Kunal Chakrabarti, Samudragupta's military campaigns weakened the tribal republics of concurrent Punjab and Rajasthan, but even these kingdoms were not under his manage suzerainty: they only paid him coverage. Samudragupta's claim of control over time away kings is questionable. Historian Ashvini Agrawal notes that a gold coin round the Gadahara tribe bears the narrative Samudra, which suggests that Samudragupta's critical extended up to the Chenab line in the Punjab region.

Some earlier scholars, such as J. F. Fleet